PREPARING FOR ETERNITY
Please open your Bibles to Matthew 6:19, as we continue our series on the eternal rewards of heaven, with today’s message, “Preparing for Eternity.” Of all the things for which you prepare, there is nothing greater than preparing for eternity. We go to school to prepare for a career. We save money to prepare for retirement. We prepare for disasters by taking out insurance. But the greatest thing for which you must prepare, is eternity.
How sad it is, that Christians who should know better, are not prepared for eternity. What a great tragedy it will be for those who are not prepared for that eternal moment when they stand before Jesus Christ, the eternal King of heaven and earth. It is my prayer that what you hear today will inspire you to prepare for that eternal moment.
Matthew 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NKJV
TWO KINDS OF JUDGMENTS
One of the profound truths about eternity is that the Bible speaks of two judgments, and how you prepare for eternity will determine which judgment you will be at.
The Bible speaks of the Great White Throne Judgment for all non-believers who rejected Jesus Christ for eternal life. Those at this judgment will be sentenced to an everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, that is so horrific that I do not have the ability to describe it.
But glory to God, the good news is, no Christian will be at the great white throne judgment. Instead, all Christians will appear at a different judgment called the Judgement Seat of Christ. At this judgment, every believer will be judged for how we lived our lives, to see what kind of rewards we will receive, if any… which is why we must prepare for eternity. However, I want to make it very clear, that the Judgment Seat of Christ is NOT a judgment to condemn us, but to see if we deserve any rewards for the life we lived on this earth.
In regard to eternity, someone recently asked me, will we be judged for the things we did before we became a Christian? That is an excellent question, and the answer is no. However, this question is so important, I want to show you why the answer is no.
A NEW CREATION
Let’s turn to a powerful scripture in 2 Corinthians 5:17, which is one of the first scriptures I memorized when I became a new Christian.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV
The moment you became a born-again believer in Christ, in God’s eyes, you are instantly changed into a brand-new creation. That means everything before your new birth in Christ has passed away, and is no longer under the judgment of God, because the old person has been replaced with a new person in Christ. The moment you are born again, your old sins are forever wiped out by the blood of Jesus, which means we will never be judged for our old sins. That’s why the cross of Jesus Christ, is a complete and finished work. Let’s look at another scripture that really drives home this point.
If you fully understood this verse, it would easily be one of your most favorite verses.
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV
In Paul’s day, if you were arrested, and brought before the magistrate, all the charges that stood against you were known as the handwriting of requirements.
This same principle also applies to the spiritual realm where the charges of our sins stood against us as the handwriting of requirements. This handwriting of requirement listed our every sin and evil deed. BUT glory to God… the moment you believed in Jesus Christ for salvation, the handwriting of requirements that stood against you, was totally wiped out by the blood of Jesus, because of His finished work at the cross.
The Greek word for wiped out, is “exalifo,” which means to completely blot out and expunge.
So… at the cross, Jesus forever removed the handwriting of requirements that stood against us, and nailed them to the cross. He accepted upon Himself all of our sins and covered them with His blood, and forever removed them from our lives. That’s why the moment you believe in Jesus Christ, ALL of your sins are instantly and forever forgiven. Glory to God! That’s why your sins before you became a believer, will not be found at the judgment seat of Christ. They have been wiped out forever.
PREPARING FOR ETERANAL TREASURES
How does that help us to prepare for eternity? Although you will not be judged for what you did before you became a believer, you will however, be judged for how you lived your life after you became a believer.
Perhaps, the saddest truth about Christians of this generation is that they are not prepared for eternity the way they should be. Of all people, believers in Christ should be fully prepared for eternity, and yet, sadly, many Christians are not ready because they have invested their lives for the treasures of earth, rather than the eternal treasures of heaven.
The key to great eternal rewards is to know what Jesus is looking for in your life. Wouldn’t you like to know now, how to prepare for that moment when you stand before Jesus Christ, the King of kings? The answer is that you prepare by investing in God’s kingdom.
Investing in God’s Kingdom is the greatest investment you will ever make, because it is an investment that will never be lost or stolen, and it will last forever. Investing in God’s future Kingdom is the best and only way to be prepared for eternity.
There is a saying all of us have heard many times; you can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead. How can we do that? How do we invest in eternity? The best that I can determine
from God’s word, is there are two ways to invest in God’s Kingdom. These two ways are…
1. Your Good Works
2. Your Giving to the Kingdom of God
Just about everything we do to prepare for eternity falls under those two things.
1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a
firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. NIV
Paul said lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, and we do that by doing good works, and by giving generously to God’s Kingdom.
Hebrews 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. NKJV
God is very pleased when we do good works, and when we give in the honor of His name. The reason I am pounding this is because we only get one shot at getting this right. How you live your life now, will forever impact your life in eternity, and remember, eternity is forever.
Far too many Christians are living and spending all they have for this world, and not for eternity. And the sad truth is that they are not prepared for eternity. If you knew… If you really, really knew just how important this is, you would be begging God to help you get this right.
LAYING UP THE TREAURES OF HEAVEN
Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… NKJV
To lay up treasures in heaven is to prepare for eternity, and we do that by doing good works and giving to the kingdom of God. I want to make it very clear, that Jesus is not condemning us for having treasures on earth and preparing for retirement. What Jesus is telling us, is that we must look past our lives on this earth and prepare for eternity.
Jesus expounds on this in Luke 12:33…
Luke 12:33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. NKJV
Jesus says it is our responsibility to provide for ourselves a treasure in heaven that will never be lost, or stolen or ever lose its value. But He also says these treasures of heaven do not fail. What does that mean? It means the treasures we store in heaven are eternal, indestructible, inexhaustible and they will never run out, or lose their value. That is as sweet of a deal as you will ever see. But… it is your responsibility to store up your treasures in heaven. If you do not store them, there will be nothing there for you, when you get there. That would be a great tragedy. That’s why you must begin now preparing for eternity and sending ahead your heavenly treasures. It begins by how you live your life for Christ.
LAYING UP TREASURE
I have heard the comment that we don’t give, or do good works to get a reward.
Listen again to Jesus words in Matthew 6:20.
Matthew 6:20 lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…
Jesus did not say lay up your treasure for God. He said… lay up for yourself treasure in heaven. Some of you may be thinking I don’t have the ability and opportunity to do good works. I’m not a preacher or a Sunday School teacher, and I certainly don’t have much money to give. I can barely pay my bills. There is no way I can invest in God’s kingdom like others.
Listen carefully, it’s not about how great your abilities are, or how much money you make. It’s about how faithful you are with what you do have. This is a Biblical principle you need to understand. In the parable of the talent, Jesus said…
Matthew 25:21 ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. NKJV
That is a powerful, lifechanging scripture you need to know and underline in your Bible.
Jesus said… since you were faithful over a few things… I will make you ruler over many things…
Jesus says He will reward all of His servants, including you, if you are faithful with what you have. He rewards all of His servants, not based on how much they have to invest. He rewards us based on our faithfulness in using what we do have.
Faithfulness is one of the most important attributes God is looking for in your life. Do you want to be prepared for eternity? Then be faithful with what God has given you.
Let’s use money as an example. How much money you make is not the problem for God. It’s about how faithful you are with the money you do make.
2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. NKJV
The reality is, God gave you the ability to make that money in the first place, and He is allowing you to make that money… to see what you will do with it. Consider this; if a person worked from the age of 25 to 65 making only 25 thousand a year and they never made any more than that. Let’s say he takes $100 a month and invested it in an IRA or a 401K and if it averages 7% over that period of time, he will have over $375,000 in his account when he turns 65. Investing a small amount over a long period of time, yields great results as long as you are faithful to investing that $100 a month. Faithful giving is the key.
That same principle applies to investing in the Kingdom of God. Let’s say that same person gave a $100 a month to the Lord, and he does this from the age of 25 to 65, he will have given to the Lord over $50,000, and yet he never made more than 25,000 a year. Think about that.
If you are faithful in your giving to God, I promise that your investment in God’s kingdom will far surpass $50,000 and… what you invest in His kingdom will last forever. It will never be lost or stolen or ever lose it value.
The whole point is, you do not have to be rich or have a high position in life to make a great difference in God’s Kingdom. All you need to do is to be faithful and consistent in serving and giving to the Lord. It comes down to being faithful to the Lord in all that you do. This is how you prepare for eternity.
IN CLOSING
In closing, God says it is foolish for a Christian to not be prepared for eternity. It is foolish to have plans for this life, but to have no plans for eternity.
Listen to what Jesus said about being prepared for eternity.
Luke 12:16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. (He is preparing for his earthly future and there is nothing wrong with that, however…) 19 I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” NKJV
The point of this parable is that no matter how rich you are, or how much material wealth you accumulate, God says you are very foolish if you have no plans for eternity. And how sad it is that so many Christians of our generation seek the things of this world, but have done nothing prepared for eternity. God says that is very foolish.
It is absolutely imperative that you prepare for eternity, and you need to begin now.
Right now, is the only time you have to prepare for eternity.
Now is the time to do good works.
Now is the time to give and invest in God’s Kingdom.
Now is the time to store up for yourself eternal treasures.
It is God’s will and purpose that you are prepared for eternity.
In the coming weeks, we will dig deep into God’s word and discover how we can be better prepared for eternity and store up great treasures and rewards in heaven.
But now is the time to get started and one of the best scriptures I know that gives us direction on how to do this comes from I Corinthians 10:31.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. NKJV
As a result of what you have heard today, you need to be asking yourself, what is God asking me to do? If you are not doing good works and if you are not giving of your tithes to the Lord, then you are missing your God given opportunities to invest in God’s kingdom and to prepare for eternity. God says those who do not prepare for eternity are foolish.
Right now, today, is the best time to get started.
